Thread-milling machine.



E. .l. LEES.

THREAD MILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.27, 1913.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. LEES.

THREAD MILLING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED AUG.27. 1913.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7/!!! rviiiiiiiL COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINIJT6N. D. c.

E. J. LEES.

THREAD MILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Aue.21, 191a;

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ISO-,WASHINGTDN. D. c.

E. J. LEES.

THREAD MILLI NG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-27.1913.

1,156,237. Patented 001;. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

gf W 771's .lfzfurney E. J. LEES.

THREAD MILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED AuG.21. 1913.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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embodying UNTTEI) STATES Ail,

orrien.

ERNEST J. LEES, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG-NGE TO THE LEES-BRADNEB COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, O'HIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

THREAD-MILLING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 12, 1915.

Application filed August 27,- 1913. Serial No. 786,878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ennnsr J. Lnn's, a citizen of the United. States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ThreadMilling Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein eX- plained and the best mode in. which'I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from. other inventions.

My invention relates to machines'for milling threads ordinarily referred to in the art as thread-milling machines.

The object of said invention. is to provide a construction and. arrangement of parts whereby the machine will have a maximum range of operation capable of milling threads of widely varying lead in a ready and efficient manner.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawings:Figure 1 is a plan of a machine embodying my invention, shown partly in horizontal cross-section. Fig. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal section, partly in front elevation, taken upon the plane indicated by line IIH in Fig. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a left-hand end elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse fragmentary section, taken upon the plane indicated by line IV.IV in Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, of a detailed portion of the machine, said section being taken upon the plane indicated by line V-V in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken upon the plane indicated by line VI-VI in Figs. 1 or 8 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows therein. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a detail portion of the mechanism, illustrating part of the means for indexing the Workholding and rotating member. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the left-hand end of the machine with part of the housing of the main driving means removed and part broken away to disclose the" said mechanism. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of a fragmentary portion of the machine taken upon the plane indicated by line- IX.IX in Fig. 8 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows therein. Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of a fragmentary portion of the machine, taken upon the plane indicated by line XX in Fig. 8.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises in its structure the mainframe A upon which the moving and other parts are arranged and mounted as hereinafter fully described. Upon the back of the frame A is secured a suitable gear housing A in which is preferably mounted the major part of the main driving mechanism, see Fig, 8-. The latter includes a main drivingshaft B upon Which may be loosely mounted the main drivingpulley B. Rotativ'e'ly secured to said shaft but longitudinally movable thereon, is a clutch-member B which is adapted to engage or disengage the pulley B. The said pulley is provided with a suitable interior friction surface for receiving and engaging the said clutch-memben Secured upon this shaft is a gear-wheel B which engages a pinion B suitably mounted in the housing A, which latter pinion engages a gear-wheel 13 also similarly mount ed, all of which are preferably unchangeable. The gear B is preferably provided with an interior conical friction surface Z) for receiving a conical clutch-member b forming part of a clutch B which is rotatably fixed to but slidable upon a shaft B upon which said gear B is loosely mounted. This clutch is provided with a second member b of preferably toothed formation, as shown in Fig. 10. A gear B loosely mounted upon the shaft B is provided with a hub which is mounted in the housing A and the shaft B extends through the wall of the casing to the exterior, projecting from the left-hand end thereof (Fig. 1). To this projecting end is detachably secured a maindriving gear B The said gear B is furthermore provided with a clutch-member 6 adapted to be engaged by the member Z7 By shifting the clutch B ,;ther'efore, it will be seen that gear B or gear 13 may be op eratively connected with the shaft B and therefore caused respectively to drive the main driving gear B? as desired. Such shifting of this clutch is effected through be removable. --its spindle through an aperture (4, Fig. 3, formed in the housing A.

the medium of a lever C, Figs. 4: and 10, the

- lower end of which articulates with an arm C secured to a rod C which extends toward the front of the machine and has secured thereto an operating lever 0*, Fig. 1.

The clutch B is preferably operated by means of a lever B suitably mounted at the back of the machine, as will be readily understood from Figs. 'l and 8. Also secured to the shaft B is a. pinion B, Fig. 4, which through a changeable train of gears 13, B 13 and 13, Figs. 4 and S, is adapted also to drive the gear B and hence also the main driving-gear 13 Gears B and B may remain always in place throughout all changes which may be made, but gears B B B and B are so -mounted as to be readily removed that gears of other sizes may be substituted therefor.

Tn'order to facilitate the changing of the gears 1n the housing A 1 preferably provide the latter with a removable plate a and arrange the spindles 11 Z), Fig. 3, upon which gears B B and B are mounted, so as to Gear B may be slipped off Itwill therefore be seen that this main driving-gear B may be driven by either of two trains of gears each of which is driven by the driving-shaft B which is rendered operative or inoperative through the medium of the clutch B. These two trains are respectively arranged so that the main driving-gear B will be driven in one direction by one of said trains and in the opposite direction by the other of said trains. The direction of rotation imparted by the first described unchangeable train is such that the hereinafter described feeding movement of the cutter-head will be re ersed, the other and changeable train of gears driving it in its forward or operative direction.

To operate the machine, the lever B is thrown so as to cause the driving-pulley B to be engaged by the clutch B", whereupon the main driving-shaft 13 rotates both the previously described trains of gears. When it is desired to obtain the reverse movement of the cutter-head, the clutch B is thrown to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, and when it is desired to effect the forward movement of said head, the said clutch is thrown to the right. It will thus be seen that in the first :described position of said clutch, the first descrlbed train of gears becomes operative and in the second position, the second described tram of gears becomes operative, the

pulley B being driven continuously.

The left-hand end of the shaft B, as

viewed in Fig. 8, has secured thereto a changeable gear D which meshes with a second changeable gear D secured to the end of a head-operating shaft D see also Figs. 1

"and 2. This shaft extends longitudinally machine.

along the rear of the frame and has its right hand end, as viewed in Fig. 1, mounted in a suitable bearing A fixed to the main frame A. The said shaft furthermore has a splined connection with a helical gear E, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby the latter may be rotated and at the same time permitted to slide along said shaft. This gear is mounted in a housing E forming the cutter-head E which is arranged to slide upon the frame A in a transverse direction the cutter-head and its driving mechanism together with the feature whereby it is adjustable upon a horizontal axis, forms no part of the present invention and hence has been described only in a general way. It is sufficient to merely state that the cutter E is movable in a direction transverse with respect to the axis of the machine, is movable longitudinally in both directions of said axis, and is rotatably adjustable about the axis of the shaft E Suitable means, also forming no part of the present invention, are provided for moving the head E upon the frame, such means including a hand-wheel E and a feed-screw E connected therewith in a suitable manner. 7

The movement of the cutter-head in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine is preferably eflected through the medium of a feed-screw F, Figs. 1 and 2, which engages a suitable nut F secured to the cutter-head frame E The right-hand end of this feed-screw is ournaled as at A and to the left-hand end of this screw is secured a gear-wheel F Figs. 2 and 3.

Pivotally mounted upon suitable bosses formed on the main frame, the lower one of which is shown in Fig. 2, are two adjustable arms G and H. The bearing end of each of these arms is preferably split and secured by means of bolts 9 and h respectively, (see Fig. 3). These arms may be fixed in any desired angular position upon the bearing bosses, as will be readlly understood. As shown, one of these arms 1s mounted at the upper portion of the machine and the other justable arm J is mounted at this end of the machine and also provided with a slot in which is mounted an idle gear K meshing with the main drivinggear B. This idle gear K meshes with a gear 72 to which is secured a pinion h both pinion and gear being mounted in one of the slots of the adjustable arm H. Pinion 7i? meshes with a second gear 5, which is mounted upon a shaft .71} whose axis coincides with theaxis of adiustment of the arm H. This shaft extends through the frame A of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, and upon its inner end is secured a pinion h which meshes with the gear F It will therefore be seen that the feed-screw F is driven through the medium of the gear train consisting of the gears K,- It", pinion if, gear k pinion 7i and gear F Secured to the upper adjustable arm G is a gear 9, having a pinion g secured thereto, and a gear meshing with said pinion. The last-named pinion is secured to a shaft g whose aXis coincides with the pivotal axis of the arm G. This shaft extends to the right I Fig. 1) and has secured thereto a helical gear L, Fig. 6. This latter gear meshes with a second helical gear L which is mounted upon a transverse shaft L The front end of this shaft has secured thereto a disk L which is coaxial with an outer and surrounding annular member L to which it may be adjustably secured by means of a spring-actuated pin Z and a plurality of recesses Z, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The member L is fixedly secured to a rotatable hollow sleeve L which forms the bearing for the shaft L as shown in Fig. 6. This sleeve has secured thereto a worm L which meshes with a worm-wheel L This worm-wheel is secured to the live spindle L of the machine which is provided with a suitable chuck L, Fig. 2, for holding the work. Coaxial with this work-holding device isthe tail-stock M of the machine; The specific construction of this work-holding and rotating means forms no part of the present invention and hence need not be further described herein, it being my intention to cover such features thereof as involve patentable novelty in a separate application for Letters Patent.

It will therefore be seen that the rotation of the main driving-gear B will effect the rotation of the live work-carrying and rotating spindle L through the medium of the gear train just described. It will also be seen that the train of gears effecting such rotation is entirely independent of the train of gears which effects the rotation of the feed-screw F and hence the feeding of the cuttenhead E This characteristic of independency makes it possible to mount and compound upon each of the adjustable arms G and H, gears of widely varving diameter so that a very large range of speed ratios may be imparted to the shafts 9* and 723. This means that widely varying relationships may be established between the move ment of the cutter-head and the rotation of the work, thus permitting threads of widely varving lead to be out upon this machine by the simple substitution and compounding of gears on the adjustable arms, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Furthermore the required speed of return movement may be obtained by changing the gear. B to one of required diameter, as will he understood. Should this change, however, result in too great or too slow a speed of rotation of the work, then other and required gears may be substituted for the changeable gears B B B and B so as to either retard or accelerate the speed of gear rotation of B It will hence be observed that the required speed of return and speed of rotation of the work can be obtained without disturbing the relation of rotation of the work to the lead of the cutter-head. In addition to this, the required sp ed of rotation of the cutter itself may be obtained independently by adopting gears of proper diameter for the gears D and D.

The idler K is preferably provided in order to impart the correct direction of movement of the cutter-head as may be required when certain combinations of gears are used. Under certain conditions this gear is entirely omitted and arm H is swung upwardly so as to cause gear h to mesh directly with gear B I In order to punctuate the positions of the clutch-operating lever C and accurately determine the positions thereof which efiect the forward and reverse movements of the gear trains and which will also enable the operator to throw the lever into neutral position in which the rotation of these trains is interrupted, I provide a segment N, Figs. 1 and 5 provided with three notches n, n and 12 The lever C carries a spring-actuated pin 0 having a beveled extremity, which engages these notches, the latter being arranged at distances from each other such as to engage the said pin when the required po sitions of the clutch B are obtained. As shown, this lever may also be secured to a rod 0 provided with stops 0, 0, engaged by a suitable extension 6 secured to the cutter-head frame, Fig. 1. When the cutter head is moving toward the head-stock, ex tension (2 will engage stop 0 and the lever 0 will be thrown over to the left into neutral position where pin 0 engages notch 71/, when all work rotation and lead movement ceases. The operator now disengages the cutter from the work and throws lever C to the left, thus causing the quick-return train of gears to become operative. This quickreturn movement proceeds until the stop 0 is engaged by extension 0 and the lever is brought back into neutral position. The operator now properly sets the cutter to as sumo the cutting position and then throws the lever C to the right, thus initiating the operative movement of the cutter-head.

To those skilled in the art of making apiaratus of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims. My disclosures and de scription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Having fully described my invention ,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions on said frame, a rotary work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, connections between said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said w rk holder for operating said head and said work holder in either direction accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a. cutter carrying head mounted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions on said frame, a rotary work holder and drive member, of a driven member, connections be tween said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said work holder for operating said head and said work holder in either direction accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing having a power transmitting ratio difierent from the first mentioned gearing and connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions on said frame, a rotary work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, connections between said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said Work holder for operating said head and said work holder in either direction accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member, the elements constituting the gearing for rotating the driven member in one direction being changeable.

4. lln a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions on said frame, a rotary work holder and a drive member, of a detachable driven member, connections between said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said work holder for operating said head and said work holder in either direc tion accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member, the elements constituting the gearing for rotating the driven member in one direction being changeable.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions on said frame, rotary work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, connections between said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said work holder for operating said head and said work holder in either direction accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member, the elements constituting the separate gearing being changeable.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carying head mounted to slide longinally in opposite directions on said frame, a rotary work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, connections between said driven member and said head and between said driven member and said work holder for operating said head and said work holder, in either direction accordingly as said driven member is operated, gearing connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate said driven member in one direction, separate gearing having a power transmitting ratio different from the first mentioned gearing and connected with said drive member and arranged to rotate the driven member in the opposite direction, and means for connecting either of said gearing to said driven member, the elements constituting the separate 'earing being changeable.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to reciprocate on said frame, a rotatable work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, drive connections between said driven member and said head for reciprocating said head, separate drive connections between said driven member and said work holder for rotating it in cooperation with the movement of said head, and means between said drive member and said driven member for rotating the latter in opposite directions.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to reciprocate on said frame, a rotatable work holder and a drive member, of a detachable driven member, drive connections between said driven member and said head for reciprocating said head, separate drive connections between said driven member and said work holder for rotating it in cooperation with the movement of said head, and means between said drive member and said driven member for rotating the latter in opposite directions.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to reciprocate on said frame, a rotatable work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, drive connections between said driven member and said head for reciprocating said head, separate drive connections between said driven member and said work holder for rotating it in cooperation with the movement of said head, and means between said drive member and said driven member for rotating the latter in opposite directions, said means having changeable elements, whereby the speed of the driven member can be changed when rotated in one direction.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to reciprocate on said frame, a rotatable work holder and a drive member, of a driven member, drive connections between said driven member and said head for reciprocating said head, separate drive connections between said driven member and said work holder for rotating it in cooperation with the movement of said head, and means between said drive member and said driven member for r0tating the latter in opposite directions, each of said drive connections including changeable gears.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a cutter carrying head mounted to reciprocate on said frame, a rotatable work holder and a drive member", of a driven member, drive connections between said driven member and said head for reciprocating said head, sepa rate drive connections between said driven member and said work holder for rotating the latter in cooperation with the movement of said head, and means between said drive member and said driven member for rotating the latter in opposite directions, each of said drive connections including changeable gears and adjustable devices for supporting the changeable gears in cooperative relationship.

Signed by me, this 11th day of Aug, 1913.

ERNEST J. LEES.

Attested by A. E. MERKEL, H. T. BRADNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

